Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza Hotel

Top Reasons to Visit Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza Hotel

This contemporary hotel, which recently underwent a $20 million redesign, resides in Chicago’s downtown River North neighborhood. Art galleries and lounges line its streets, and the Theater District is about a half mile away.

You’ll enjoy spectacular views of the Chicago River and the city skyline from the chic cocktail lounge and all guest rooms.

Take the Skywalk to the Merchandise Mart, a landmark 1930s building and wholesale design center specializing in high-end interior design and luxury goods.

The onsite ItaliAsia blends Italian and pan-Asian flavors in a sprawling dining room adorned with dark wood furnishings and Chinoiserie accents. Guests can sample fusion fare such as chicken milanese with indonesian curried udon noodles and a collection of sake wines.

Head up to the hotel’s Cityscape Bar for certified-organic wines and potent martinis. Situated on the 15th floor, the lounge’s wraparound floor-to-ceiling windows also offer views of the city skyline.

In the 1960s, Chicago artists such as Jim Nutt began creating surrealist art that rejected many of the modernist trends in New York. The group would eventually become known as the Chicago Imagists—and the artists' impact was significant enough that, ever since, Chicago has played a crucial part in the international art world. Today, the city's most concentrated cluster of galleries is in its River North neighborhood, where the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza Hotel is situated. Century-old, red brick warehouses now house lofty exhibition spaces, each specializing in distinct art styles ranging from modern American art to European Impressionism.

River North is also where you'll find some of the city's trendiest restaurants and bars, all within walking distance of the Loop—Chicago's historic commercial center and the country’s second-largest business district. Skyscrapers loom large here, including the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and the Chicago Board of Trade. This part of town is also home to award-winning waterfront parks and a glitzy theater district.

Head to the Loop's Art Institute of Chicago for its gargantuan collection of artwork, ranging from marble busts and sarcophagi to modern masterpieces such as Grant Wood's American Gothic. The Loop itself is also decorated with a spectacular array of public art, including outdoor sculptures from Picasso and Joan Miro, and pointillist hopscotch grids.